Sockeye salmon is a commonly consumed fish, although National Geographic magazine points out this is among the smallest of the seven species of Pacific salmon. These salmon typically live between three to five years and are also known as blueback salmon due to their bluish tops. According to National Geographic, the much-prized salmon meat gets its distinctive red color from the orange krill the fish eat. Salmon is often cited on lists of "power foods," such as the one assembled by Testosterone Nation magazine, which praises the fish for its protein and healthy fat content.
Calorie Content
According to the nutrition information provided by CalorieKing, a 4-oz serving of sockeye salmon contains 244 calories. If you consume the daily recommended intake of 2000 calories, then one serving of sockeye salmon would provide a little more than 12 percent of your daily calories. You should note that this calorie count pertains to sockeye salmon that has been cooked with dry heat and has been served plain. Cooking with oil or butter and adding sauce will add additional calories.
Fat Content
According to the information provided by CalorieKing, a 4-oz serving of sockeye salmon provides 12.4 g of fat. Of this fat, only 2.2 g is saturated fat. World's Healthiest Foods explains that the high fat content of salmon is not to be feared, as it provides nutritional benefits. The website notes that salmon provides essential fatty acids that your body cannot produce, and that salmon has a unique fatty acid profile that may prevent inflammation and promote circulatory and immune system health.
Carbohydrate Content
According to the nutrition information from CalorieKing, a 4-oz serving of sockeye salmon contains no carbohydrates. This may make sockeye salmon appropriate for low carbohydrate diets, which often recommend high fat and protein intake. Nutrition and fitness expert Glen Danbury of Bodybuilding.com notes that consuming a low carbohydrate diet has some advantages, such as promoting metabolic changes that make it easier to burn fat. However, you'll still have to be in a caloric deficit to lose weight on a low carbohydrate diet.
Protein Content
Like most fish, sockeye salmon is a rich source of protein. CalorieKing notes that each 4-oz serving of sockeye salmon contains 30.9 g of protein. Protein is beneficial because it helps form the structure of your body's cells and tissues, such as muscle, hair and skin.
Other Nutrient Content
In addition to providing protein and healthy fats, salmon also provides calcium and potassium, notes CalorieKing. According to the National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health, calcium is a particularly important mineral because it helps form your teeth and bones and also helps in the secretion of enzymes and hormones.
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